Schelstraete Delacourt is looking for a COO for a Belgian company active in premium FMCG .
The organization is strongly established in Western Europe with accelerating growth in the United States and expanding rapidly in developing regions such as the Middle East and Southern Europe. The revenue has grown significantly over the past five years.
The COO needs to drive operational excellence by delivering high service levels while minimizing working capital, transforming the organization from a reactive, operational setup into a structured, integrated, efficient, and performance-driven Supply Chain.
Tasks & Responsibilities:
Forecast & Demand Planning
Develop and implement reliable, data-driven demand forecasting processes
Lead S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) implementation and continuous improvement
Integrate AI and advanced tools to automate forecasting
Collaborate with field teams to incorporate real-time demand inputs
Purchasing & Procurement
Transition from reactive to proactive procurement strategies
Align purchasing decisions with demand forecasts
Manage supplier relationships and conduct regular performance reviews
Optimize stock levels and ensure supply security
Warehouse & Logistics
Oversee warehouse operations and address space constraints
Standardize logistics processes and workflows
Implement partial automation and improve picking efficiency
Drive continuous optimization and digitalization of logistics operations
Production
Improve production flows to increase efficiency, throughput, and reliability
Strengthen the link between production and supply chain planning
Identify bottlenecks and implement continuous flow improvements
Drive operational excellence across production processes
Align production activities with demand forecasts and supply chain priorities
Quality & After-Sales
Establish and enhance quality monitoring systems
Implement standardized and digital quality processes
Ensure quality performance is tracked, measured, and continuously improved
Strengthen after-sales support and feedback loops
KPI & Performance Management
Define and implement key supply chain KPIs
Establish shared KPIs across teams with regular reporting cycles
Monitor performance in real time and drive accountability
Use KPIs to support decision-making and continuous improvement
IT & Data Management
Deploy and optimize ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) tools
Establish strong data governance practices
Improve data reliability and accessibility
Leverage AI for performance tracking and decision support
Processes & Talent Development
Identify skill gaps and improve cross-functional coordination
Lead upskilling initiatives and targeted recruitment efforts
Build a structured, data-driven team culture
Promote best practices and continuous process improvement
Profile:
~10+ years of broad Supply Chain experience gained within a production context
~5+ years of experience with managing teams: strong in people management and team development
~ Background in FMCG
~ Experience with change management, ideally in an organization with a focus on bottom line
~ Knowledge of automation, digitalization, and ERP systems
~ Hands-on, down-to-earth, and pragmatic mindset
